Artan to referee Uefa Super Cup after losing World Cup spot
Somali referee Omar Artan is appointed to take charge of the Uefa Super Cup match between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa later this summer after being denied a spot at the World Cup.
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Notable Quotes
"Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football."
— Aleksander Ceferin , Executive
"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa."
— Omar Artan , Athlete
"Football is made to connect people and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills."
— Aleksander Čeferin , Executive
"We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces."
— Gianni Infantino , Executive
"Football is made to connect people, and Uefa wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination."
— Aleksander Ceferin , Executive
"This is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football, bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and worldwide."
— Patrice Motsepe , Executive
"I am very, very disappointed."
— Omar Artan , Athlete
"Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills."
— Aleksander Čeferin , Executive
"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa. I am very, very disappointed. I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream – the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup."
— Omar Artan , Athlete
Key People
President of Uefa who commented on Omar Artan's officiating skills.
President of UEFA.
President of FIFA.
Somali referee Omar Artan was set to become the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup finals.
President of the Confederation of African Football who supported Omar Artan's opportunity.
Tags
All Coverage
Somali referee Omar Artan is appointed to take charge of the Uefa Super Cup match between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa later this summer after being denied a spot at the World Cup.
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the U.S. for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg.
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the U.S. ahead of the World Cup, is set to officiate the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg.
Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12, following his exclusion from the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to U.S. entry denial.
Somali referee Omar Artan, previously barred from participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup by U.S. authorities, has been selected to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12, following his exclusion from the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to U.S. entry denial.
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